Thursday, February 25, 2021
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Council wants rules on incentives
iolaregister.com
Taking control
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COVID-19 Case Count
Total cases* ................... 1,115 Deaths........................... 16 *Since the start of the pandemic Sources: Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Departments, Kansas Department of Health and Environment
By RICHARD LUKEN The Iola Register
Iola City Council members are keen on developing a policy to codify what incentives can be offered for new business development. Councilman Carl Slaugh has taken the reins to the endeavor, asking his fellow Council members for their thoughts on what should be considered when drafting the policy, which would require approval of the full Council’s approval. “If I drafted a policy that might address some of my concerns, I think it would be incomplete without getting input from Council on what their preferences are,” Slaugh said Monday. The subsequent discussion covered several areas, from setting criteria to determine how much, if any, can be offered. Members pointed to such criteria as the number of employees or revenue generated from sales taxes or utility usage. Mayor Jon Wells said incentives, and criteria, also should differentiate on whether developers are industrial, commercial or residential. Mark Peters said value-added jobs should be given special consideration, such as if an employer offers full benefits. He noted few other communities offer electric hookups as incentives, as Iola traditionally has done. Wells said he favored seeing Iola keep those utility in-
Allen County
Fillies fall to Oz in home heartbreaker After Rachel Shaffer’s character drugs her date, Blake Hess, he needs her assistance to call someone for help in “The Modern American Romance Not Often Seen.” It’s one of five student-directed one-act plays offered at ACC Theatre at 7:30 tonight through Saturday. REGISTER/VICKIE MOSS
ACC students make directing debuts By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register
Allen Community College theater students will offer five thought-provoking takes on relationships and reality this weekend. The college presents its student-directed one-act plays starting tonight through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the ACC Theatre. It’s an opportunity for experienced theater students to take charge of a production, from selecting the play and the cast through overseeing the final performances. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for students. Allen students, faculty and staff are free. Tickets will be available at the door, however, due to the ongoing national pandemic, seating will be limited. To reserve a seat, contact Trevor Belt, Director of Theatre, via email at belt@allencc.
content and are not recommended for individuals under the age of 15. Following is a review of each performance, along with the director’s take: The Modern American Romance Not Often Seen
Carolyn Appleton and Maxwell Kays struggle with their inner demons in “Afterlife.” edu. Seating will be socially distanced, and per college guidelines, all patrons attending performances will be required to wear a mask. The skits contain adult
Things aren’t looking good for Avery Minowitz, a character played by Blake Hess of Garnett. It’s his second date with Deedee Fishman (Rachel Shaffer of Moran). She slipped him “a roofie” during dinner and dragged his drugged body back to her apartment. It’s a darkly hilarious twist on the dangers of modern dating, and the desperate desire to be loved. Hess delivers a standout performance without doing any standing. He’s scared and confused, then angry and perplexed. He masterfully handles his
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Fauci: Take what vaccine is available PAGE A3
Layoffs still high WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell sharply last week but remained high by historical standards. Applications for benefits declined 111,000 from the previous week to a seasonally adjusted 730,000, the Labor Department said Thursday. It is the lowest figure since late November. Still, before the virus erupted in the United States last March, weekly
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Audit: Fraudsters bilk Kansas unemployment system for $600M By SHERMAN SMITH Kansas Reflector
Empty vials that contained a dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. (PHILL MAGAKOE/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES/TNS)
FDA says single-dose shot from J&J prevents severe COVID-19 WASHINGTON (AP) — Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose vaccine offers strong protection against severe COVID-19, according to an analysis released Wednesday by U.S. regulators that sets the stage for a final decision on a new and easier-to-use shot to help tame the pandemic. The long-anticipated shot could offer the nation a third vaccine option and help speed Vol. 122, No. 337 Iola, KS 75 Cents
vaccinations by requiring just one dose instead of two. Food and Drug Administration scientists confirmed that overall the vaccine is about 66% effective at preventing moderate to severe COVID-19, and about 85% effective against the most serious illness. The agency also said J&J’s shot is safe. The analysis is just one See SHOTS | Page A6
TOPEKA — A report issued Wednesday by the Legislature’s auditing division estimates up to $600 million in fraudulent unemployment claims may have been paid out during the pandemic. The estimate is based on 157,000 initial claims flagged in the past 12 months by the Kansas Department of Labor as possible fraud. The agency disputed the audit’s methods and conclusions. Republicans questioned whether the agency acted quickly or effectively enough to respond to fraud warnings as unemployment claims drained 75% of the state’s trust fund. “Whatever actions or tools or identity verifications
Auditor Matt Etzel delivers a report on unemployment fraud to lawmakers during a hearing Wednesday at the Statehouse. (SCREEN CAPTURE BY KANSAS REFLECTOR)
were done were absolutely inadequate,” said Kristey Williams, a Republican from Augusta who serves on the Legislative Post Audit Committee. “I’m not arguing with efforts. I’m arguing with outcomes.”
Auditor Matt Etzel said the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program was attractive to fraudsters because it involved claims that didn’t require the typical employer verification. See FRAUD | Page A3